As more UEFA Women's Champions League action looms on ESPN in November, as well as the NWSL playoffs, Lyon and Malawi star Tabitha Chawinga is flying for club and country, with sister Temwa Chawinga also in hot form for both the Kansas City Current and the Scorchers.
Meanwhile, South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana continues to excel for Tigres UANL, while at international level, there's another increasingly reliable goal poacher in town for Banyana Banyana in the form of Mamelodi Sundowns' Ronnel Donnelly.
1. Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current
Temwa began the month with a goal for the Current in their 5-1 win over Bay FC. She then went off to international duty with Malawi and scored four goals across the course of a two-legged Olympic qualifying tie with Zimbabwe -- a goal in the 2-0 first-leg win and then a hat-trick in the 7-0 second leg triumph.
After returning to club duty with the Current, Temwa turned provider as she provided a beautiful assist for Haley Hopkins' game-clincher in the 2-0 win over Utah Royals -- turning her marker and powering forward before squaring to her teammate for the finish.
Chawinga topped the NWSL regular season scoring charts in each of the previous two seasons and finished joint-fourth this season with 12 league goals.
She still has an opportunity to clinch Championship glory with the Current, who made the playoffs and will face Angel City on Saturday.
2. Tabitha Chawinga, OL Lyonnes
Tabitha Chawinga not only scored for Lyonnes in their 5-0 win over Toulouse, but also excelled as a provider of goals in October.
The Malawi captain picked up one assist in the 5-0 win over Marseille, then two more in the 5-2 win over Montpellier.
The defending French champions top the table again with seven wins from as many games and will be in UEFA Women's Champions League action against Juventus on Nov. 11 following Saturday's league clash with Lens.
The elder Chawinga sister also scored in both legs of the 9-0 aggregate Olympic qualifying triumph over Zimbabwe. Malawi will face Kenya in the third round of qualifiers in February - March.
3. Thembi Kgatlana, Tigres UANL
Kgatlana has been in hot goalscoring form for Tigres this season and October saw her maintain it with an assist in a 3-1 win over UNAM, a goal in a 2-2 draw with Monterrey, and a standout performance against Atlas with two goals and two assists in a 7-0 drubbing.
Although used somewhat sparingly in the 7-0 two-legged aggregate Olympic qualifying win over Madagascar which set up Banyana Banyana's third-round clash with Angola, Kgatlana is likely to be pivotal to their 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification hopes before that.
South Africa will face Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan in November - December in the preliminary phase of the Intercontinental Playoffs, which Kgatlana's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) heroics played a vital role in helping them reach.
4. Barbra Banda, Orlando Pride
Banda scored twice in the second leg of Zambia's Olympic qualifying tie against Uganda as the Copper Queens overturned a 2-1 aggregate deficit to win the second game 4-1 and the tie 5-3. Zambia will face Ghana in the third round.
October also saw Banda score for the Orlando Pride in a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Wave. With 17 NWSL goals to her name this season, she would have been a contender at least for the Golden Boot had U.S. travel restrictions linked to Ebola not effectively ended her season after the clash with Uganda.
She excelled upfront in a difficult season for the Pride overall, which saw them finish 11th and miss out on the playoffs.
5. Shukurat Oladipo, AS Roma
October saw Nigeria's Oladipo put in strong shifts for Roma in their wins over Lazio, AC Milan and Juventus in Serie A. Although they suffered a 2-0 UWCL defeat to Chelsea, they have already bounced back with a 2-1 win over Napoli in the league to kick off November.
Utilised as a fullback by Nigeria during the WAFCON, where the Super Falcons exited at the quarter-final stage, Oladipo's main position for Roma is at centre-back, and October saw her demonstrate her value there - particularly during the derby against Lazio, where she won all six of her duels in a 3-1 win.
After a Saturday Serie A clash with Como, Roma will be in UWCL action against Servette on Tuesday.
6. Uchenna Kanu, Cruz Azul
Kanu scored in both legs of Nigeria's 7-0 aggregate Olympic qualifying win over Comoros, netting once in the 2-0 first leg win and 5-0 in the second leg drubbing.
Nigeria will face Morocco in a clash of giants in the third round. There are still 16 teams remaining in Africa's Women's Olympic qualifying and only two of the continent's teams can make it to LA 2028.
7. Fatoumata Kanteh, Sevilla
Gambia's Kanteh scored for Sevilla in their 3-3 Liga F draw with Badalona - her third Spanish top flight goal of the season in five appearances.
Having had a relatively productive season in 2025-26 with six league goals and four assists, Kanteh, 29, is well on her way towards surpassing it this term if she keeps up her current rich vein of form.
8. Toni Payne, Inter Milan
Courtesy of her brace for the Super Falcons in the 5-0 win over Comoros, Payne makes it into our top 10.
For Inter, October saw the playmaker featured in wins over Como and Parma, a draw with Napoli and a defeat to Lyonnes. November has begun with a 3-0 win over Lazio.
There is a massive week ahead, with Saturday's derby against AC Milan followed by Tuesday's UWCL clash with Manchester City.
9. Michelle Alozie, Chicago Stars
Alozie scored for Nigeria in the 2-0 first leg win over Comoros. Her performances for Chicago Stars have been less remarkable, but still respectable.
The season as a whole did not go according to plan for the Stars, who finished bottom of the NWSL regular season standings. However, Alozie's versatility in terms of her ability to play as a fullback or in multiple offensive positions means she remains a vital asset - especially for the national team.
10. Ronnel Donnelly, Mamelodi Sundowns
Donnelly may play her club football in a league which is only semi-professional, but her performances for South Africa over the international break were as impressive as those from any African players, as she scored five goals over two legs in a 7-0 aggregate win over Madagascar.
Donnelly led from the front in the first leg with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win, and then scored two goals in the second to clinch it 3-0 for South Africa.
An imposing physical presence in the box, Donnelly had served more as a creator of opportunities than a scorer of them in her previous Banyana appearances. October was the month that indisputably changed.
The NWSL and UEFA Women's Champions League air on ESPN's channels in Africa (DStv 218 and 219) and on Disney+ in South Africa.